Let's be frank, owning a dog is on the whole good for our health. Dogs get us up, out, and walking (whether we feel like it or not!), which is brilliant for those of us that might not otherwise get the chance to prioritise exercise.

I have however seen examples of dog walking leading to the odd injury, in both patients at my Osteopathy clinic, and experiences of my own- I had the privilege of taking on a German Shepherd puppy last summer, who is now nearly 8 months old and weighs 35 kilos! The most common dog walking injuries that I treat using Osteopathy are back or leg pain following a fall, shoulder injuries from dogs pulling on the lead or repetitive ball throwing and foot problems such as plantar fasciitis or tendon injuries from poor footwear.

So, without further ado, here are three simple ways to reduce your chances of injury when walking your dog!